Our first family pictures!!

Our good friend Meg Borders came over to take our first family pictures :) ... it was actually fun being on the other side of the camera for a change and now I know what I put the poor parents thru during a newborn shoot! Both Blake and I were peed AND pooped on ... but it was worth it. The pics are amazing, thanks Meg!!!

From hospital to home

I FINALLY got around to uploading pics (and captions) about our hospital adventure! Below are just a couple you'll find in the slide show. Can you believe in twelve hours I went from the top picture to the bottom picture? Best day of our lives ....

Click here to see the rest! (don't forget to read the captions below the pics so you know what is going on in the picture!)

Braxton's first photo shoot with Mommy!

Today was the first day I broke out my big camera to snap a couple pics of our precious baby boy! We are doing "official" newborn pics tomorrow and I will post those as soon as they are done! I love the one of him winking because he's a hard core pirate! And the one of his sleeping is just too precious. Nice diaper too, huh? He was a peeing machine so I couldn't take it off. We'll strip him for the offical pics though!

Braxton's Debut.....

I can hardly believe my baby is a week old today. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was pregnant now all of a sudden the days are starting to zip by.

I know I have been promising to write about his birthday, but somehow my days seem to be getting filled up with feeding, diaper changes, clothes changes, naps …. and more diaper changes! Brax is asleep with Daddy right now, so I thought that since today is his week birthday, now would be good time to fill you in on the exciting events of 10/28/09! It’s not too graphic, but if you’re not interested in reading about a birth check back for the next post tomorrow! 

Tuesday 10/27 started off with Blake and I going to our Dr (Dr. Mark Mulholland (Dr. M) – we LOVE him!) for an 11:20 appt. He had told us the previous week that he highly doubted I would be pregnant through the previous weekend, but look who surprised him! During the appt Dr. M told us I had dilated even more (3 cm) and was still sitting at almost 100% effaced. He couldn’t believe I hadn’t gone into labor. He decided to strip (what was left) of my membranes, and that seemed to do the trick! That essentially was the tipping point that put me into labor! Once Dr. M realized that contractions were actually happening he called the hospital and “reserved” a room for me! He told us to go grab a light lunch and head to the hospital in about an hour.

We went to Stone Soup for my favorite Veggie Sandwich and that was when I noticed that the contractions were starting to hurt. It was so exciting knowing that the next place we were heading was to have a baby!! We got to the hospital about 1:30 and got checked in to Suite 12. They had me “gown up” and then we got registered, I got the IV-holder in, and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor to monitor his heart beat and my contractions.

Between 1:30-4 I had dilated 1 cm more and contractions were sort of painful, but not getting super close together. So at 4pm, Dr. M came in and broke my water. This was crazy!!! It literally felt like I was just peeing the bed! I also happened to be peeing all over Blake’s shoes! (not the last time that would happen this night!)

After my water broke my contractions started coming a lot faster and harder. About an hour later I realized I was ready for an epidural. They were really painful and I didn’t realize how tense it was keeping my body. My Dr said that while I stayed tense like that it would be hard for labor to progress as naturally. So I went ahead and went for it and am soooooooooo glad I did! I asked for a really low dose and the anesthesiologist did amazing! (Meg and Ty – we had Bill Smith too!!!!!) I could still feel and move my legs and toes and could still feel all around my hips, it just make the pain go away and I only felt pressure. I got the epidural at 5pm and that was what I needed to zoom my body even further! I went from a 4 to a 7 in about an hour and a half!
I stayed around a 7 for awhile and actually fell asleep for an hour or two because I was so relaxed! By 10pm I was really close to 10cm, but we found out our Dr got called into surgery, so here came the hard part. I had to “hold” at a 10 until he was done. Any woman who has been through labor and knows the “I have to push” feeling can sympathize with me. It is the biggest, most natural urge I have ever felt to “push” every time a contraction came on. But to keep the baby where he was at, I had to do everything in my power not to push every contraction (about every minute or so).

Finally a little after midnight Dr. M got out of surgery and came to check on me. Time to go he said! The room transformed before our eyes and about 12:45 am I started to push. It didn’t hurt, just felt a lot of pressure and got really tired after each push. Blake said he was amazed at watching the process of his son being born. At 1:48am Braxton Hunter Kluse made his way into the world! It was the most amazing thing to see him! He was blueish-grey and covered in the white vernix. He was so soft and I just was holding him and kissing him and saying his name over and over! Blake and I couldn’t stop smiling!

A few minutes later, the nurses cleaned him up and weighed him – 9lbs and 21in! I had a little gorilla in there! The best sound was hearing him cry and knowing his lungs were working like they were supposed to!

All in all, the experience was amazing. Blake videotaped the birth and he and I watched it our last night in the hospital. I have to say, a woman’s body is pretty amazing with respect to what it can do to push a child out!

Now Brax is a week old and I can’t believe how fast the time is flying. I just want to stop time and savor every second with him this size. The best feeling is him warm and cuddly on my chest as we nap together. That will never get old. I also love hearing all his squeaks and sounds! He is truly a little miracle and Blake and I couldn’t be happier that he chose us to be his parents !

We love you, Braxton
-Mommy & Daddy

A little sleepy sleepy time with Nana and Papa!

Here is a pic of Brax chilling with Nana and Papa! They love this little cuddle bug and got to see him take his sponge bath which he HATES! He screams like a banshee!

Hanging with Uncle Mike!

Here are today's pictures! Blake's brother was in town for a couple of days before a hunting trip and we are so excited Brax is here to meet Uncle Mike! The top picture is one from this morinng when our little monkey was waking up! He just gets cuter and cuter every single day! We are sooooooooo in love!!!

PS Uncle Mike - Baxter says to shoot the deer in the mouth!! ;)

My Squeaky Sqeakerson!!!!

Here is a video we took in the hospital of him with the hiccups! We should have named him Braxton HICCUPS Kluse for all the hiccups he had when he was in my belly! It is soooo cute to hear them in real life! He is such a little sqeak toy!!! We love all his little sounds!

What's a pirate's favorite letter .... Arrrrrgh

That title goes out to Uncle Matt :) .... sorry I am late posting these, it's amazing how having a baby can fill your day!!! :) Since he was a little too big for his lion outfit, Mommy decided to make him a pirate for his first Halloween! He was the most cuddly little pirate I have ever seen!!

Below is a pic of Blake took of Brax and I eating dinner together (I love his smooshed face on my chest!!!) and below that are two that my friend Meg took while we are at the hospital. He is only 5 days old, how is it that he is already looking bigger!?!?! Stop growing Brax!!!

We're home!!

We are home! We got relased from the hospital today and are spending our first night as a family at home tonight!! (Friday 10/30). I'll have a little more time tomorrow and blog about the birth story and add a few more pictures in. For now, Mommy, Daddy and Brax are heading to bed to catch some Zzzzz's ... at least for a few hours :)

PS - this is the coming home outfit I was talking about earlier! I got the idea at a conference where everyone has to wear those funny stickers with their names on them and I thought it would be hilarious as a coming home outfit, so I made one! Thank goodness I ironed it on a 0-3 month size onesie and not a newborn onesie!

Love to all!

Day 2 with Braxton!

More Pictures of Braxton!

Braxton has arrived!

Braxton Hunter Kluse
9 lbs 21 inches
Born on 10/28 at 1:48am

Mom, Dad, and Baby are all doing great!!!

You ask, and you shall receive ...

Wednesday night we went with Meg and Eric to what we joked was 'the last supper!' We ate at Carmines (awesome!!!) and I loaded up on my last carb-fueled meal!! Then when we were back at their house Meg took some funny pics of me and I had to share them.

If you don't want to see a pregnant belly stop reading now! A lot of you who have seen my bare belly have told me to blog it cause it looks so ridiculous (like an egg!!) but I have been hesitant, well, this pic she got was too perfect, so I figured ... what the heck. I'll let everyone see my giant egg protruding from my stomach.

And that last one is Blake playing his game with him! He does duck calls into my tummy and it makes him move! It is the cutest thing in the world!! Enjoy ... and don't make too much fun of me :)

Blue Toenails for my Boy!

Thanks to my friend Angie, who as part of my baby shower gift got me a nail polish named "BLUE FOR MY BABY" ... I now have my toenails polished, bedazzled with rhinestones, and ready for the stirrups! That was the LAST thing on my list....so PLEASE come now Baby Kluse!

PS - Dr. appt tomorrow (10/21) at 1:30pm, will let you know the latest after that!

Sneak Peek!

Tera Pettit (our engagement and wedding photographer) did some maternity pictures of us last week and here is a sneek peak she sent us! Should have the rest soon and I'll post more then! Can't wait --- I LOVE this shot!! Tera, you're amazing! :)

38 weeks!

My hubby the photographer :) like the tilt in the camera?!?!?! :) I'm a little over 38 weeks now! Contractions are starting to get a little more regular, but they're still about 20-30 minutes apart and pretty much feels like bad cramping. We go to the Dr again on Wednesday, so we should know more then!

This was our "relaxing" weekend and I was soooooooooo bored. Blake and I do not do good just laying around. I think we are so used to being on the go 24/7 that when we have 10 minutes of down time we don't know what to do with ourselves! We just go stir crazy!! We even went on a drive last night just get out of the house again and do something .... good thing we're having a kid, then we can APPRECIATE when we have down time!!!

Nesting almost complete --- CHECK!

Ok, here is proof that my house WAS indeed clean before the birth of my son :) I have been nesting like crazy --- cleaning cupboards, the pantry, every closet in the house, having Blake shampoo carpets ... we're down to only our bedroom and our bathroom (tomorrow's project) then everything is done and I can say I am officially ready for him to come! ....now the garage is another story.

Now, I'm ready for bed!!! Cleaning the floors on your hands and knees at 38 weeks pregnant is a tougher job than I thought!! As my friend told me, "show these pics to the housekeeper you will hire so she knows what it should loook like!!!" :)

Is this what it's gonna look like?!?!?

This is Blake's idea of a "posed" picture! Thanks to Andrea for snapping it and photoshopping the text in! You can see the petrified look on my face as Blake's saying, "trust me, trust me turn and spread your knees!" ... at 9 months pregnant I don't quite have the mobility I once did and seriously thought I was going in the freezing water!

Heidi & Sean's Wedding!

Today was our friends'--Heidi and Sean--wedding! It was a beautiful fall day and Heidi looked absolutely gorgeous! I loved her dress! And being that it WAS a wedding, I had to include a picture of the most HANDSOME HUSBAND IN THE WORLD! Love you baby!

Abbey Mae turns THREE!!!

Little Miss Abbey Mae turns 3 this month! Wendi and Abbey flew home for a visit and to have her birthday party here! Uncle Blake and I wish we could have stayed longer, but we had a wedding to get to :( .... But miss Abbey did give Auntie Brittney a chance to play with her new camera and BOY DOES SHE LOVE IT! This little princess is gorgeous and was having a great day! We love you Abbs!

THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!

Well today was just the best day ever! We had our 36 week Dr appt and did the Strep B test (will find out results later this week) AND .... did the first physical exam to find out if I was making "progress" ... and I am! I am already 75% effaced and 2 cm dilated!!!! The Dr doesn’t think I will make it to my due date and gave us a guess of about 2-2.5 weeks from now! He told us to pack bags tonight (just in case)….so we did! It was so fun packing for our son! We kept putting his little socks on our fingers because we can’t get over how tiny they are! YAY! We are so excited! I still feel great and am going to keep going-going-going because it sounds like that's what's helping me progress faster!

Also, my new camera came today! I am so stoked! This is the one I was going back and forth and back and forth on and finally decided to get!

The other pics are a couple Blake took tonight (one I thought was super cute that he took of me napping in our son’s new chair!). I kind of like to just go in his room and put on a nursery CD (thanks Staci!!!) and just nod off thinking about what it will be like when he’s here.

The last pic is my 36 week shot. I think I forgot to do a 34 week (sorry!). We have Abbey’s bday party and Heidi and Sean’s wedding this weekend, so I’ll have other pics up soon! BTW - we are shooting for 10/22 for his bday (that is the anniversary of the day Blake proposed!!)